The 16 Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin of 2024
If you're prone to dry skin, a nourishing moisturizer is an essential addition to your daily skincare rotation. The right product will lock in moisture, preventing ashiness and hydrating the skin.
To find the best moisturizers for dry skin, we spent hours researching top-rated products and evaluating their formulation, finish, ingredients, and size. For expert insight on what ingredients to look for in a moisturizer, we consulted Thomas Griffin Jr., MD, board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology, and Vanessa Thomas, cosmetic chemist and founder of Freelance Formulations.
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Anti-inflammatory ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and allantoin help soothe skin and reduce dryness, roughness, and redness.
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It's a thicker cream, so it's not a good option for people looking for something more lightweight.
This daily moisturizer has soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients that can help tackle skin redness and irritation. The star ingredient is colloidal oatmeal, which reduces dryness, roughness, scaling, and itchiness. This moisturizer also contains shea butter and allantoin, another soothing chemical compound. These ingredients, while highly nourishing, do create a slightly thicker consistency, so this isn’t a great option for people looking for a very lightweight formula.
It’s fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and allergy-tested, so it’s a good pick for people with sensitive skin and redness, including eczema. It's accepted by the National Eczema Association, so you can rest assured that it's safe to use on even the most sensitive skin types. You can even use it on the rest of your body, making it one of the most versatile options out there.
Type: Cream | Key Ingredients: Shea butter, colloidal oatmeal, allantoin | Size: 2, 6, 8, and 14 ounces
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Ingredients include five ceramides, helping to boost your skin’s barrier and lock in hydration.
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It absorbs very quickly, which may not be great for people who prefer a dewy feel.
This unscented, mild moisturizer contains squalane and glycerin as well as five “key ceramides” (Ceramide AP, Ceramide AS, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NG, and Ceramide NP). Ceramides are super hydrating fatty molecules that trap moisture and help support your skin’s natural barrier, so this cream is highly nourishing.
The non-comedogenic formula is dermatologist tested and can be used during the day or night, making this a versatile pick. Plus, it’s free from dye, fragrance, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde, botanical extracts, and gluten, so it's safe for sensitive skin as well.
Type: Cream | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane | Size: 3 ounces